Secretary Clinton in her first news conference:
“There is a great exhalation of breath going on in the world as people express their appreciation for the new direction that’s being set and the team that is put together by the president,” Clinton said. “We have a lot of damage to repair.”
SECRETARY CLINTON: Well, you have raised a number of questions that we are in the process of assessing ourselves. With respect to North Korea, I think the Six-Party Talks are essential. They’ve not only been a useful forum for the participants to deal with the challenge of North Korea’s nuclear program and the other issues that are part of the North Korean agenda, but within the Six-Party Talks there have been bilateral meetings. And we are going to pursue steps that we think are effective. And I think I’ll leave it at that. But it is important that I underscore what we see as the significance of the Six-Party Talks. They’ve been useful not only vis-à-vis North Korea, but among the participating nations on related matters in the region.
Clinton also weighed in on the breach ceasefire, coming down strongly on the side of Israel, as expected:
“We support Israel’s right to self-defence. The (Palestinian) rocket barrages which are getting closer and closer to populated areas (in Israel) cannot go unanswered,” Clinton said in her first news conference at the State Department.The top U.S. diplomat, whose comments may be seen by some as giving Israel a green light to once again pound Gaza, accused Hamas of “offensive” action against the Israeli Defence Forces on the border.
“It is regrettable that the Hamas leadership apparently believes that it is in their interest to provoke the right of self-defence instead of building a better future for the people of Gaza,” said Clinton. [...]
But one of the biggest things in Hillary’s day today was also the letter she received requesting partnership benefits for gays and lesbians.
Nearly 2,200 government employees involved in foreign policy issues signed a letter delivered to Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton yesterday calling on the government to give equal benefits to same-sex partners.
The Bush administration had eased some rules, opening up some training to same-sex partners, but had resisted efforts to treat homosexual partners the same as married couples. But Clinton, during her confirmation hearings, indicated a greater willingness to explore the issue.
“I think that we should take a hard look at the existing policy,” Clinton said in response to a question from Sen. Russell Feingold (D-Wis.). “My understanding is other nations have moved to extend that partnership benefit.” [...]
Hillary firing on all cylinders!
As far domestic partner benefits: Can one dept. in the government make that decision unilaterally? I’m sure it would have to apply across the board.
There will have to be legislation for some of it, from what I understand. But Clinton, under Pres. Obama, will be able to expand it.
fyi… Obama has a meeting tomorrow afternoon at the Pentagon. They’ll be talking about Iraq and Afghanistan and how these two wars are impacting our military.
Bill C’s honoraria details are out:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090128/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/clinton_finances
I deeply appreciate her commitment to the GLBT community, something PBO has not matched, which I hope changes. I’ll never forget that she included us in the last two speeches of her presidential candidacy, how much those shoutouts meant in such important moments in her career. Says a lot about her. I hope she can push forward with this – since in about half the states, we can still be fired for being gay!!
President Barack Obama asked Comittee Chairman Henry Waxman to remove family planning money from the stimulus bill after Republicans objected.
OT – but slow today.
Gene and Majel are buried – precisely where they would want to be …
http://www.ktla.com/landing_topstories/?The-Final-Frontier-Roddenberrys-Ashes-He=1&blockID=197433&feedID=1198
Majel actually reminded me a little of you, Taylor.
President Barack Obama asked Comittee Chairman Henry Waxman to remove family planning money
from the stimulus bill after Republicans objected.
stormny
There are times to make your stand, and that wasn’t one of them.
The Republicans won’t sign onto the bill no matter what it contains, but ultimately most Americans will want something passed. You keep the family planning money in it and probably a third of Americans would object on that basis alone.
Right now, I want Obama to focus on two things: passing a stimulus bill and foreign affairs, particluarly the Middle East. The culture wars will come later.
Right now, I want Obama to focus on two things: passing a stimulus bill and foreign affairs,particluarly the Middle East. The culture wars will come later. John H
So lowering new births and population growth (“family planning”) doesn’t help our over-stressed economy ?
Hmm. Go figure.
John H | 01.28.2009 – 07:40 am | #
Why is it that anything that has an impact on the lives of women is considered secondary to anything else that the government does? I don’t care about the one-third of Americans who would object. Obama won and if the stimulus package passes with the family planning provision that’s all that counts. It’s just going to make it tougher to pass family planning provisions later and gives the Republicans the idea that they have some kind of hold over this government. Quite frankly I’m sick of the Republicans telling us that government should stay out of our lives but it’s ok to tell women what they can and can’t do with their bodies. And while I’m at it why are we allowing pharmacists to dictate what prescriptions they will or will not fill based on their religious beliefs? I’m sick of this fundamentalist garbage. We live in a country that allows us the right to worship as we please not to dictate to other people how to live. The right to family planning services is a civil and human right and has nothing to do with religion.
This comes from an old family planning provider and I’ve seen first hand what happens to women who do not have the right to control their own reproductive health systems.
Either we take a stand now or we’ll see more of the so-called “culture wars.”
Either we take a stand now or we’ll see more of the so-called “culture wars.”
Jane Austen
I don’t see family planning as purely a women’s rights issue, it can affect everyone. As to its removal from the economic stimulus package, what is it doing there in the first place?
I hated it when the GOP would attach anti-abortion legislation to defense spending bills, I just don’t see the difference.
I want to see family planning money, I know its importance. Put it in a bill and get that passed. Don’t turn an economic stimulus bill into some type of referendum on abortion.
And we will have culture wars now, and for the next four years and beyond. I personally don’t think its appropriate in this case.
I think Obama is living in the real world, and is going to get this bill passed ASAP, and having a month delay over this doesn’t cut it. The Democrats have been very good at going for everything and getting nothing.
I think Obama made the right move on this. Democrats hold both houses of congress. Once the stimulus package is passed democrats can bring up family planning and pass it with or without repugs. The bill will stand on its own with no problem.
I do not get why the first contact with the Israeli conflict isn’t Hillary.
That made me wonder if Obama is just really shoving her into a corner.
If so, it’s going to be a big mistake.
AnninCA, they’re not going to start with the big guns first. Incremental steps before Clinton. Bush made a mess of diplomacy. Mitchell has to prepare the way.
Diplomacy 101, so expect it across the board.
Why Mitchell?
I do know that anything she says is like dynamite.
It’s best to keep out of sight.
I hope you’re right.
I have NO illusions that her own take on things matters on whit. He’s the president. He calls the shots.
That’s losing.
And that’s reality.
But this whole Mitchell thing struck me as way weird.
AnninCA
Well you have drawn me in…..Why Mitchell?
His back ground in Ireland is reason enough.
Don’t worry about Hill she can handle the men AND make them think they are incharge.
Have you seen the latest video of Barbara Bush’s Odd Couple? I do love seeing HWB and Bill together…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jXuRlcUjoAE
boohall……..I guess you echoed my thinking a bit.
I figured she’d put out some guy to take the heat.
Lord knows, if she says she likes tapioca pudding, it’s a flipping disaster in the world.
I do not, btw, think this strategy is going to work.